During the winter months or a particularly chilly evening, the fireplace keeps your home warm, cozy, and comfortable. Curling up in a chair or the couch in front of the fireplace with your favorite book or a cup of coffee is just the best relaxation on a chilly day. While a fireplace makes your home more comfortable and also improves its looks, there are some fireplace mistakes that you are susceptible to making. From not using the right fireplace inserts in Denver to not following the right safety protocols there may be a lot of things that you might be avoiding.
For homeowners that own a fireplace, it is important to stay on top of maintenance and also keep an eye out for any issues that you might notice with your fireplace. If you are not aware of the fireplace mistakes that you can make, here are some common fireplace woes that you can avoid.
Keep The Fireplace Area Clutter-Free
While a fireplace is a great source of zonal heating and makes your home warm and comfortable, it can also be dangerous if you do not take some steps. One such step is to avoid clutter around the fireplace. Do not place furniture, knickknacks, rugs, or any other stuff that is susceptible to catching fire, too close to the fireplace. This may lead to a fire hazard if the combustible substance somehow catches fire on it. Keep the hearth area clear of any clutter to avoid any disaster.
Choose The Right Mantel
If you want a mantel surrounding your fireplace then you need to make sure to choose the right mantel design for your fireplace. The size, shape, and proportion of the fireplace need to match the scale of the room, otherwise, your fireplace is going to look out of place. An oversized mantel will overshadow your fireplace while a mantel that is too small will make the fireplace look strange, so make sure to make the right selection.
Maintain Fireplace Safety
To maintain fireplace safety, get your fireplace inspected every year by a professional and also clean it before the winter season rolls out. Maintaining and cleaning the fireplace regularly prevents fire hazards that might take place from a deteriorating fireplace, animal nests, or a blocked chimney. Also, keep a fire extinguisher ready near a fireplace as a preventive measure, in case a fire starts.
Don’t Tinker With Carbon Monoxide
Carbon Monoxide detectors are crucial for homes that have a fireplace, especially if you have a gas fireplace insert in Denver. The carbon monoxide detectors alert you in case of a gas leak, or serious venting issues. Do not try to tweak the detectors on your own and discuss with an expert to understand their work. Install a detector in the room where the fireplace is as well as on every level of your house plus the basement. Test the batteries of the detectors regularly and also replace them every 6 to 10 years.
Eliminate Firebox
Cleaning the fireplace regularly is very important. Do not let ash accumulate inside the firebox as it can reduce the overall air quality inside your home. You can hire a professional fireplace cleaner to clean the ashes and if you have a good deal of DIY knowledge, you can do this yourself as well. A pro tip while cleaning the ashes is to sprinkle some coffee grounds on the ashes to avoid any flyaway, and after you have cleaned the ashes scrub the fireplace walls as well. This will help reduce the soot buildup inside the fireplace, clean the walls with a good quality heart cleaner.
Old Fireplace Designs
If you live in an old house, then the fireplace was also built when the home was built. So, if you renovate your home or change the interior design and decoration, you should also update the fireplace so that it matches the design of your home, or else you will be left with a fireplace that looks outdated compared to your home design.